Get ready for a feast of architectural inspiration: Future Fest is back for a third season of engaging live talks with some of the world’s best architects!
This year’s series included a roster of renowned architects from around the globe, including speakers from REX, Alison Brooks Architects, Foster + Partners, Mecanoo and more. So, if you missed the live talks during the event, never fear — the recordings are available to watch at your leisure. Every talk was and continues to be 100% free to attend.
Explore the talks below and register to access the recordings.
The House of Courtyards designed by Studio VDGA, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Photo by Ema Peter Photography | Popular Choice Winner, Architecture +Photography, 12th Annual A+Awards
Talk 1 | How Collaboration Enhances Architectural Photography with Ema Peter and Studio VDGA
Special Guests: Ema Peter, Principal at Ema Peter Photography and Deepak Gugarii, Founder of Studio VDGA
Discover the powerful partnership between Ema Peter and Studio VDGA as they explore the intersection of architecture and photography. This talk reveals how architect-photographer collaboration transforms complex designs into compelling narratives.
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Talk 2 | Atelier Gardens: How MVRDV’s Joyful Design Ethos Is Innovating Urban Futures
Special Guest: Klaas Hofman, Senior Associate and Architect, MVRDV
In this presentation, learn how MVRDV revitalizes outdated structures and transforms urban environments into vibrant community spaces. Explore the firm’s innovative Atelier Gardens intervention, which blends functionality with joy.
Talk 3 | How Foster + Partners Are Pioneering New Forms of Urban Architecture
Special Guest: Nicola Scaranaro, Partner, Foster + Partners
Dive into Foster + Partner’s pioneering approach that harmonizes contextual sensitivity with technological innovation. This talk explores how the firm tackles complex urban projects, including high-rise commercial and mixed-use developments, while integrating sustainability.
Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center by REX, New York City, New York | Photo by Iwan Baan | Popular Choice Winner, Hall/Theatre, 12th Annual A+Awards
Talk 4 | How REX Is Reimagining Performance Architecture
Special Guest: Joshua Ramus, Founding Principal, REX
The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) is a cultural keystone in the World Trade Center master plan. Discover how this dynamic design integrates architectural ingenuity with community-centric values, resulting in an adaptable performance space that enhances artistic expression and fosters a deep connection between the audience and the performance.
Talk 5 | How HDR Is Designing Meaningful Architecture for a New Era
Special Guest: With 4 Practice Leaders from HDR
Led by Global Design Director Brian Kowalchuk, FAIA, this conversation explores how contemporary design addresses the evolving needs of institutions like hospitals and academic campuses, emphasizing the integration of technology, equity and sustainability to create human-centered environments that drive positive change.
Talk 6 | Adaptive Reuse and the Architecture of Palimpsest
Special Guests: Vishaan Chakrabarti, Founder & Creative Director, and Ruchika Modi, Principal, Practice for Architecture & Urbanism | PAU
Vishaan Chakrabarti and Ruchika Modi, as they discuss their transformative project, The Refinery, which revitalizes the historic Domino Sugar complex while preserving its industrial character. Attendees will learn about designing accessible, community-focused spaces, crafting narratives that honor history, and integrating biophilic elements with sustainable materials.
Exeter College Cohen Quad by Alison Brooks Architects, Oxford, United Kingdom | Photo by Hufton+Crow
Talk 7 | How Alison Brooks Architecture Crafts Community and Civic Spaces
Special Guest: Alison Brooks, Founder & Creative Director, Alison Brooks Architects
Join Alison Brooks as she discusses her practice’s unique approach to architecture, emphasizing the importance of cultural research in fostering community engagement. Discover how her projects exemplify a sculptural design language that enhances civic identity and inclusivity.
Talk 8 | How Mecanoo Finds Identity in a Globalized World
Special Guest: Rodrigo Louro, Associate Architect at Mecanoo
Delve into how unique architectural dialects shape our built environments, as Mecanoo discusses how contemporary buildings can contribute to local identity. This talk will showcase recent projects, highlighting their shared goal of area regeneration while emphasizing human-centered design, cohesive narratives, and fundamental sustainability in architecture.
Talk 9 | How Salagnac Arquitectos Connects With Nature Through Architecture
Special Guest: Lucca Spendlingwimmer & Evangelina Quesada, Principals at Salagnac Arquitectos
Contemporary Tropical Architecture promotes the maximum integration of the building and the environment, lowering its impact on the natural world. Dive into this design philosophy with the award-winning Costa Rican firm Salagnac Arquitectos, as the firm’s founders explain the creative process behind their stunning, sustainable brand of architecture.
Interested in accessing the recordings to previous editions of Future Fest?
Follow this link for the full 2023 program.
Follow this link for the full 2022 program.
Top image: Tainan Public Library by Mecanoo, Tainan City, Taiwan